Category: Australia
Australia's newest five star spa
By Paul Johnson on Oct 12, 2009 in Accommodation, Australia, Family Travel, Oceania, Regions, Resorts, Spas & Pampering, Speciality Travel
In February 2010, the doors will open on the Spa at Château Élan, a five-star Salut Per Aqua in the heart of the Hunter Valley. Part of the new Château Élan at The Vintage, the luxury spa complex has 18 treatment rooms dedicated to exclusive spa rituals, traditional hydrotherapies and social relaxation. It is one Italian cookery classes (in Australia!) from Rosa Matto
Are you planning a special Italian dinner or perhaps just looking to brush up your skills? South Australian chef Rosa Matto has been hosting cooking classes with an Italian twist since 1989, giving lessons from her custom-built open studio kitchen in Goodwood, Adelaide. Rosa’s classes are very hands-on and range from sauce, bread and pasta
$260m plan for Melbourne's Hotel Windsor
Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor has announced a $260 million development proposal aimed at securing the future of the city’s only 19th Century grand hotel. The proposal aims to re-establish the property as the leading hotel in Melbourne. Highlights of the plan include: • Refurbishment of the original hotel building and its key historic features. The exterior
An eco-retreat in the heart of South Australia's Flinders Ranges
Travellers to South Australia looking for environmentally sensitive accommodation devoid of mobile phone reception yet rich in old-fashioned Outback hospitality, should look no further than 29,000 acre Rawnsley Park Station. Renowned for the introduction of their award-winning luxurious eco villas, Rawnsley Park is located in the heart of the Flinders Ranges only 400 km from
The world's largest chocolate waterfall!
By Paul Johnson on Mar 08, 2009 in Attractions, Australia, Food and Drink, Fun Stuff, Going Out, Oceania, Regions, Travel Miscellany
Chocolate lovers’ wildest fantasies are now coming true with the launch of the largest chocolate waterfall in the world. Made from 400kg of chocolate descending in a mere five seconds and 4.5m wide, the new sweet attraction is part of Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate, the world’s first interactive chocolate exhibition on iconic Philip 
Interview with Catherine Leech of 101 Holidays
By Paul Johnson on Feb 05, 2009 in Accommodation, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Celebrities, Europe, France, Hotels, Interviews, Malta, Middle East, New York, North America, Oceania, Regions, Resorts, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Travel Miscellany, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA, Websites, Western Europe
Catherine Leech has worked in luxury travel for more than 25 years. She started in PR before becoming European Director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, then Managing Director of luxury tour operator, Caribtours. After the tsunami of 2004 she moved to Sri Lanka where she worked for two years, mostly as a volunteer, 
A successful first year for 'qualia'
By Paul Johnson on Jan 21, 2009 in Accommodation, Australia, Magazines, Oceania, Regions, Resorts, Travel Equipment, Travel Literature
qualia, Australia’s newest world class luxury resort on Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, has much to celebrate since its opening 12 months ago. Most notably it was awarded “Best New Tourism Development” at the 2008 Whitsunday Tourism Awards; in May 2008 qualia was also featured on the cover of the UK version of 
The Australia Way
By Paul Johnson on Dec 03, 2008 in Adventure Travel, Australia, Celebrities, Cruises & Boat Travel, Leisure Travel, Oceania, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany
‘Australia‘, a newly-released film, tells the story of an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) and a rough-hewn cattle driver (Hugh Jackman), who drive a 1,500 herd of cattle across Northern Australia; and it is putting the country well and truly on the tourist map in a manner not seen since the days of 
Green star for the Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island
The Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island has another star to its name. Not content to be a just another five star resort, it’s scooped up a green star endorsement from AAA Tourism. This new accolade is to recognise the resort’s environmentally responsible business practices.Tasmania's best tourist attraction? Tahune Airwalk
By Paul Johnson on Jul 29, 2008 in Adventure Travel, Attractions, Australia, Going Out, Oceania, Regions, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Videos
An insight into Tahune Airwalk, one of Tasmania’s best-known attractions. Introductory special from the Metropolis Hotel Auckland
By Paul Johnson on Jun 07, 2008 in Accommodation, Australia, Hotels, Oceania, Regions, Special Offers & Packages, Travel Miscellany
When only the best is good enough, the Metropolis Hotel Auckland is the place to meet. Under Millennium Hotels & Resorts management from the 1st June 2008, they are delighted to offer you this special introductory offer of $180 (inc GST) per night for a one-bedroom apartment. But be in quick, this offer is for 
Luxurious 'Platinum' service introduced Down Under on The Ghan
Known for making the epic journey from Darwin through to Adelaide, legendary Australian train The Ghan is introducing a ‘platinum’ service in September that aims to be exceptional in luxurious standards. Passengers will be able to rest their heads on deluxe pillows from a menu, stretch out in cabins with fresh flowers that are twice
Branson develops Makepeace Island at Noosa
Sir Richard Branson is pressing ahead with the construction of a luxury Australian island retreat for his Virgin airline staff despite remaining opposition from environmentalists. Plans for the $4 million nine-hectare estate at Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, have already been scaled back so that there won’t be a country club or helipad as
Argh! Why can't companies keep their sites up-to-date?
By Paul Johnson on Apr 23, 2008 in Australia, Oceania, Regions, Special Offers & Packages, Travel Miscellany, Websites
You’d think at the luxury end of the industry that operators would keep their sites up-to-date, wouldn’t you? Whilst most do, I often stumble upon examples where they don’t. QANTAS are currently offering a ‘Seashells Escape’ on their QANTAS Holidays homepage – a 10-night itinerary discovering the delights of Western Australia whilst staying 
